T.he historic and picturesque village of Elham is in the heart of the Kent Downs, about half-way along the meandering valley that bears its name and that links Folkestone to Canterbury. Its 43 listed buildings and unique setting make it one of the most historically interesting and picturesque villages in East Kent.

For much of its history Elham was a small market town. It retains many of the fine buildings of its late medieval and Tudor heyday, including the large Grade 1 listed church of St Mary, a number of fine timber-framed houses of the 15th, 16th and 17th century, and two market places in the Square and at the bottom of the High Street where the road widens out.

The Square or old Market Place of Elham adjoins the churchyard on the north side and dates from 1251, when Edward I granted a market to the town. A market was held there every Monday until the latter part of the 18th century. The market or fair continued until about 1830. The wide part of the High Street marks the site of the annual Horse Fair, which was held here every Monday before Easter until about 1840.

The Abbott's Fireside Hotel, built in 1614, was reputedly used, for a short while, by the Duke of Wellington during the Napoleonic Wars. It is also reputed that King Charles hid in a chimney in the Abbott's Fireside when he was pursued by the Roundheads. On the opposite side of the road is the Rose and Crown, part of a 16th century coaching inn which still has a court room dating from that period.

In 1994 Elham produced a terrific Parish Map which is on display in the new Village Hall. The map depicts the individual houses and buildings in the village, walks, and important and locally renowned features. The village received advice from Graham Clarke, the well-known Kent artist, and the parish map featured in Kent Life magazine and received national acclaim in Country Living magazine. The success of the parish map project even sparked off a visit from a Tazmanian family who were very keen to initiate something similar in their part of the world !

The village went on to secure funding for a fabulous poster depicting the species of flora and fauna in the disused Chalk Pit and a sculptured seat from which to view the village. Both the parish map and chalk pit poster have been made into cards, postcards, posters and mounted prints which were for sale and raised £3000 towards the new village hall fund.

In 1997 Elham contributed to the Kent Downs AONB Jigsaw project which informed the Kent Downs AONB Management Strategy. With support and funding from the Kent County Council Wildlife Corridors Programme Elham produced a 'Wildlife Survey and Identification of Areas for Future Action' in 1999. A lichen study has been undertaken for the churchyard and volunteers have been involved in numerous other projects such as, hedge infilling, clearance of bronze age burial mounds and installing 100 dormouse boxes and 40 bat boxes with help from the Childrens Nature Club which meets every Saturday morning.